SPARK week is a week long community outreach here in Bridgton.  It is in its second year, and it has grown in many ways.  Mostly, it is a chance for the congregation of our church to share their gifts with the community at large.

Bridgton, Maine is an aging community, so I thought a community hymn-sing would have a certain appeal.  This was scheduled for last night at the town bandstand.  Last night also happened to be the worst rain storm in many decades in the state of Maine.  Obviously, the bandstand wasn't an option.  So we quickly regrouped and used the town gymnasium instead.  While it didn't have the draw of an open air event, we still had 20 people show up.  Admittedly, they were primarily from our church and another local church, but the event went on as scheduled.  I know one recently widowed gentleman was blessed by this evening of worship on an otherwise dreary evening.

Then today our church did a service at the local nursing home.  While I often do shows there, this time I went to be part of the bigger group.  Most of the service was again a hymn sing along, and the residents gladly joined in.  I was asked to do one routine, so - in keeping with the theme of hymns - I did "Standing on the Promises of God".  This is an old routine originally created for a church that would not allow us to use any other type of music except hymns.  Not easy when one's show is built primarily around juggling.  But, instead of refusing the gig or dishonoring their musical request, I came up with a couple of hymn based routines including this one.  It's a balance board routine in which I literally stand on some of God's promises:  The boards and pipes are labeled "Hope", "Joy", "Life", etc.

Today's nursing home audience seemed to understand the symbolism, and after this routine we went back to singing and sharing scripture with the audience.  I think I have sung more hymns in the last 18 hours than I have in years.  And why not after all?